Brandon J. Laird (born September 11, 1987) is a third baseman for the New York Yankees.

Career[link]

Laird attended La Quinta High School in Westminster, California. He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 27th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft, but did not sign, opting to attend Cypress College. Laird was drafted by the Yankees in the 27th round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft, and signed with the Yankees.

On August 2, 2010, Laird was promoted from Double A Trenton Thunder to Triple A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.^[1] Following the 2010 season, he was added to the Yankees' 40 man roster in order to protect him from the Rule V Draft.^[2]

Laird was named both the Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year of the Eastern League in 2010, following a breakout season.^[3]

Laird was promoted to the majors for the first time on July 18, 2011 when Ramiro Peña was placed on the disabled list.^[4]

On Friday July 22, 2011 at Yankee Stadium, Laird made his Major League debut, and got his first Major League hit and RBI against Oakland Athletics pitcher Craig Breslow on a single to center field. He scored his first run earlier in the game, scoring on a single by Nick Swisher after working a walk off of A's pitcher Joey Devine.

Brandon Laird was awarded the 2011 Minor League Rawlings Gold Glove Award along with teammate Austin Krum on September 29, 2011. Laird received his award on April 19, 2012 before a game against the Rochester Redwings at Frontier Field.

Personal[link]

Brandon's brother, Gerald is a catcher for the Detroit Tigers.^[5] In December 2009 Laird and his brother were arrested following a brawl at US Airways Center during a Phoenix Suns-Boston Celtics game.^[6]

References[link]

External links[link]

Baseball portal

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• Yankees prospect Brandon Laird shows major signs of progress / New Jersey Star Ledger

This article is about the musician. For the baseball pitcher, see Alexander Torres.

Alex Torres
Torres performing with Alesana on Warped Tour 2010
Background information
Birth name	Alejandro Torres
Born	(1987-09-15) September 15, 1987 (age 24)
Origin	Casa Grande, Arizona USA
Genres	Metalcore, post-hardcore, emo, alternative rock
Occupations	Musician
Instruments	Vocals, guitar
Years active	2003–present
Labels	Epitaph, Tragic Hero, BreakSilence
Associated acts	Praisin' Bran, Eyes Set to Kill, Greeley Estates, Alesana

Alex Torres (born September 15, 1987) is an American musician, best known for being the guitarist of metalcore bands Eyes Set to Kill and Greeley Estates, and being the current guitarist for Alesana.

Musical career[link]

Praisin' Bran (2003–2005)[link]

Torres played lead guitar in the youth worship band at the Christian Church of Casa Grande in Casa Grande, AZ while in high school. Though the name was a most clever play on breakfast cereal and worship music, it was seldom pronounced correctly (most often confused as "Praising Band"). Praisin Bran could be seen playing weekly on Wednesday nights in the CCCG Youth Hall, but also performed at numerous locales and events around the city of Casa Grande. Members included Mo Schlittenhart (vocals/rhythm guitar), Travis Sawade (drums/percussion), Kristee Vanderheyden (vocals), and Isaac Valenzuela (bass/guitar). Torres was the only member of the band to go on to play music at a professional level. Though mostly playing popular worship songs of the time, Praisin Bran was known to write original material from time to time, including memorable hits such as "Broken To You" and "Father I Adore You."

Eyes Set to Kill (2006–2007)[link]

Torres was one of the first three non-original members to join Eyes Set to Kill, as it was started as a three-piece. He recorded their first EP, When Silence Is Broken, The Night Is Torn, before leaving the band unannounced.

Greeley Estates (2007–2010)[link]

Torres joined metalcore band Greeley Estates in April, 2007, along with Joshua "Fergz" Ferguson.^[1] He recorded both Go West Young Man, Let the Evil Go East and No Rain, No Rainbow. On June 15, 2010, Greeley Estates officially announced that Torres had left the band, "abruptly" before their Japan tour,^[2] to "focus on other musical endeavors", and also announced that bassist David Ludlow would take over guitar and that Micah Kinard, the lead vocalist of Oh, Sleeper, would be filling in on bass.^[3] They have since added Kyle Kolesch to be permanent bassist.

Alesana (2010–present)[link]

Almost immediately after he left Greeley Estates, Torres joined post-hardcore band Alesana when their guitarist, Jake Campbell, left the band to be with his family. Torres went through all of Warped Tour 2010 with Alesana and is included on the band's fourth studio album, A Place Where the Sun Is Silent.

Discography[link]

With Eyes Set to Kill

• When Silence Is Broken, The Night Is Torn (Self-released, 2006)

With Greeley Estates

• Go West Young Man, Let the Evil Go East (Science Records, 2008)
• No Rain, No Rainbow (Tragic Hero Records, 2010)

With Alesana

• A Place Where The Sun Is Silent (Epitaph Records, 2011)

Videography[link]

With Greeley Estates

• "Blue Morning"
• "If She Only Knew"

With Alesana

• "Circle VII: Sins of the Lion"
• "Lullaby of the Crucified"

References[link]

Austin Romine
New York Yankees – No. 72
Catcher
Born: (1988-11-22) November 22, 1988 (age 23) Lake Forest, California
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 11, 2011 for the New York Yankees
Career statistics (through 2011 Season)
Batting average	.158
Home runs	0
Runs batted in	0
Teams
New York Yankees (2011–present)

Austin Allen Romine (born November 22, 1988) is a catcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball.

Baseball career[link]

Romine was drafted by the Yankees in the second round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft out of El Toro High School.^[1]

Going into the 2009 season, he was rated the Yankees' fourth best prospect^[2] and their second best prospect for 2010, according to Baseball America.^[3] In 2009, Romine was named Florida State League Player of the Year.^[4] In 2010, he was named as a participant in the All-Star Futures Game.^[5]

After competing for the big league backup catcher job in spring training, Romine was assigned to the Double-A Trenton Thunder to begin the 2011 season.^[6]

On September 1, 2011, Romine was called up to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees after playing with the Trenton Thunder that night as the team's designated hitter.^[7]

Less than two weeks later, Romine would make his major-league debut. After injuries to two catchers, first to Russell Martin and then Francisco Cervelli, the Yankees needed a replacement. When the team was unable to immediately reach Romine, manager Joe Girardi then asked another player, Romine's older brother Andrew, for help in contacting him. On September 10, while Austin was shopping with his girlfriend at a Walmart in Kentucky, Girardi called her cell phone and then told him about his call-up to the Yankees.^[8] The next morning, he traveled to California to join the team, which was then in a series with the Los Angeles Angels, and was officially added to the Yankees' 40-man roster. In the seventh inning of the game against the Angels, Romine made his major league debut behind the plate.^[9] On September 12, he got his first Major League hit off of Mariners reliever Dan Cortes.

Personal[link]

Romine's father, Kevin Romine, played in the majors for the Boston Red Sox from 1985 to 1991.^[1] His brother, Andrew Romine, plays for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

See also[link]

• List of second-generation Major League Baseball players

References[link]

External links[link]

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• Romine trying to follow in father's (and brother's) footsteps New York Daily News, Anthony McCarron, December 11, 2010
• Yankees catching prospect Austin Romine learning to weather ups, downs of hitting, NJ.com, July 31, 2010